Guests were dressed to the nines for a special night out at the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce signature event, the 33rd annual Gala dinner and auction. Over 225 guests participated in a very successful live auction, silent auction and games of chance, capping off the evening with dancing to the big band sounds of the ‘Oceanside Seven.’

The Parksville Community & Conference Centre was transformed nicely with a beautiful ‘Blue Moon’ theme. With 125+ silent auction packages to choose from, successful bidders left smiling with some amazing gifts generously donated by our Chamber members. The master of ceremonies was none other than Dave Graham from The Beach 88.5. It was a great opportunity to catch up with old friends or make some new ones. The auctioneer for the live auction was Patrick Jiggins from the Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club and he had amazing live auction items to announce including: whale watching trips, sport fishing trips, Penticton Wine Tour with Accommodations, Hockey Weekend and accommodation packages from some of the island’s most luxurious resorts.

Parksville, BC – September 19, 2017 - Look what’s happening in our front yard! The Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre has entered into a partnership with the Coombs Farmers Institute and is transforming the space into a garden. As many projects do, the partnership came about because of a chance meeting. Kim Burden, Executive Director for the Chamber and Janet Thony, President of the Coombs Farmers Institute met at an event and struck up a conversation. Kim says, “part of the Chambers strategic plan includes exploring new ways to increase awareness around our social responsibility to the community. By providing the opportunity for the Coombs Farmers Institute to use the space as a demonstration and teaching garden we are contributing to the social well-being of the community. Teaching people to grow food gives them the chance to be more self-reliant. Ultimately, we want the harvest to find its way to those who need it. It’s a win for everyone involved."This past weekend lots of work took place and on Monday morning, the Chamber opened to a newly planted garden. The staff and students of the Coombs Famers Institute ‘Here We Grow’ school planted and prepared the beds for winter. Janet Thony tells us ‘the first of four courses offered to the public will start the first week of April. To get started we have planted fruit trees, vegetables and flowers to brighten up the garden. Cabbage, broccoli, spinach, chard, radish, lettuce, endive, turnip, carrots and kale round out the selection for vegetables that will do well over the winter months.’coombsfarmersinstitute.ca